Warm-up, someone made some effort, starting the sauce

1. Around the time of her usual lunchtime walk, her tail starts wagging even though the rest of her is dozing on the sofa. “It’s a warm-up, like stretching,” I tell John. 2. The boxes are coloured to indicate who they’re for – the big cat, the little cat or the dog. The colours – [...]

Crack, a pretty coincidence, accomplishment

1. The sharp snap as I break the twigs. 2. The arrangement of the washing on the line looks deliberately composed. The duck-egg blue of the bath towels, the washed out mid-blue of the dog ones and the soft turquoise & cream of the tea towels all coordinate while standing out against the leafy green [...]

31 Beautiful Things

In honour of my 31st birthday, here are 31 beautiful things from today. (Cross posted to my main blog.) 1. I’d gone to bed before John and it’s after midnight when he comes to bed. I stir as he climbs in next to me and we have a sleepy exchange, the content of which I [...]

Hard copy, a different cat, hidden colour

1. My free photos arrive. Each brings a new smile to my face: people, animals, places I’ve been. 2. Boron swaggers over to me and says he wants a hug. In one movement, I pick him up and roll him onto his back on my knees so his rabbit feet are in the air. I [...]

Food metres, great taste, dog identification

1. We’re supposed to have leftover risotto for lunch but what should have been a side dish for that becomes our main dish instead: John’s Grandma’s marrow flower fritters, made with flowers, courgettes and eggs from our garden. The risotto can wait for another day. 2. The holy basil cuts through the spice. It’s ages [...]

Mystery marinade, good show, cooling down

1. I throw various things into the marinade and when I’m spreading it on the meat, I worry it’s too many flavours – but it isn’t. The crisp skin is salty and spicy, but more than that too – rounded, pleasantly complex. Another George’s Marvellous Medicine cooking attempt worked out well. 2. When they hold [...]

Not at all alone with the moon – a day of company

1. All of Team Peach is on the bed when we wake up and we sing the ‘Team Peach on the Bed’ song. (“Team Peach on the bed, fa la la la la. Carla on the bed, La la la la la. Boron on the bed, Bee bee bee bee bee. Lily on the bed, [...]

3BT – soft & even, play time, the new recipe

1. Her freshly clipped coat feels like velvet. 2. We worry – as we always do – that the play is bordering on fighting but the woman assures us that it is definitely play. The dogs bounce around together amongst the oak trees as we talk about them behind their backs. 3. The slow-rise bread [...]